Diaper Swappers

ktarsha · 02-21-2013, 03:54 PM

A couple of weeks ago, DH went on the roof to investigate some damage from a storm. That evening, he felt sore on one side and was sure it was a fractured rib (never mind that all he'd been doing was lying on his stomach and stretching; there had been no force applied, much less the amount it would take to break a rib). He decided to go to the ER. I was putting the kids to bed when he left, so I couldn't talk him down. Turns out it was just a strained muscle. We got the bills today, totaling approximately $4,000. I'm so angry. I mean, I understand he was in some pain, but that's $4,000 for a *#@%& strained muscle; there goes the money I had saved to buy proper beds for the boys, there goes any possibility of replacing the worn out (and frankly unsafe) play structure this year, there go some repairs that really ought to be done around the house. I know the hospital will let us set up a payment plan so we don't blow through our entire savings, and I realize deferring non-essential purchases and repairs will not ruin our lives, but I'm really steamed that we will spend so much on something that would get better on its own in a few days. Seems like every time we get ahead and have a nice cushion in savings, something happens to blow it away.

I guess the "good" news is that we're not too far from our deductible, and after I take the 2-year-old for his hearing screen and speech evaluation, I'm betting we'll be pretty close to meeting it; after that, everything is covered 100%.

mbleblanc · 02-21-2013, 04:30 PM

holy moly! Yeah I'd be livid too! Heck, our healthcare is free and I still get mad when SO goes up to ER for a stuffy nose, sore back, etc. (he doesn't like our family doctor lol)

Maybe tell him to come up with the money outside of the family savings? That might be a bit harsh but there's no way I'd spend $4,000 on a silly medical bill over stuff for the house/kids!

sisu · 02-21-2013, 04:39 PM

I would be infuriated, too.

bdhutier · 02-21-2013, 04:41 PM

Call the hospital and let them know your deductible is high. In the past I have had them treat it like we were self pay and it knocked the bill down.

happyhats · 02-21-2013, 04:46 PM

Yeah, I would first call the hospital and see if you can get things cheaper. Then maybe pay a chunk upfront that you are comfortable with. Then make the monthly payments something hubby has to be responsible for, as in it comes out of any of his blow money and frivolous things mainly for him.

lyn1270 · 02-21-2013, 04:46 PM

oh lawd....he would need to go back to the hospital for a for real broken rib when I got done w/him....grrr.....men can be so ignorant smh

evasimone · 02-21-2013, 04:52 PM

Wow I'd be upset too. I have good insurance and don't believe in using the emergency room for anything besides true life or death emergencies. Things that can't wait for your doctor we use urgent care. Your DH should have gone to urgent care or waited and gone to the doctor. I totally Understand why you are upset.

Rdesonia · 02-21-2013, 05:05 PM

Yikes that is more than it cost for my hospital stay and the birth of my daughter! I would seriously check to see if that bill is correct! $4000 for an ER are visit? Did they do an MRI or just a chest xray? (I could see if that included an MRI. But really a Chest x-ray would have been sufficient.)

shortcake2386 · 02-21-2013, 05:06 PM

i had a really bad migraine the day my baby got out of a week in the hospital. i didnt have access to my meds so it got BAD. dh tried to explain the insurance to me but i was in too much pain. i thought it was like 10% yeah...AFTER a $5000 deductible

i could have died when i got the bill. but we are just paying it a little at a time

kaia.aline · 02-21-2013, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rdesonia

Yikes that is more than it cost for my hospital stay and the birth of my daughter! I would seriously check to see if that bill is correct! $4000 for an ER are visit? Did they do an MRI or just a chest xray? (I could see if that included an MRI. But really a Chest x-ray would have been sufficient.)

Yeah that's 8x more than my daughters birth and 4x more than my kidney stone surgery a few weeks ago- OP I'm with the other girls call the hospital and see what you can do!

02-21-2013, 03:54 PM	#1
ktarsha Registered Users Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: near Nashville, Tenn. Posts: 2,209 Ratings: 141 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	grrrrr... a DH/money vent A couple of weeks ago, DH went on the roof to investigate some damage from a storm. That evening, he felt sore on one side and was sure it was a fractured rib (never mind that all he'd been doing was lying on his stomach and stretching; there had been no force applied, much less the amount it would take to break a rib). He decided to go to the ER. I was putting the kids to bed when he left, so I couldn't talk him down. Turns out it was just a strained muscle. We got the bills today, totaling approximately $4,000. I'm so angry. I mean, I understand he was in some pain, but that's $4,000 for a #@%& strained muscle; there goes the money I had saved to buy proper beds for the boys, there goes any possibility of replacing the worn out (and frankly unsafe) play structure this year, there go some repairs that really ought to be done around the house. I know the hospital will let us set up a payment plan so we don't blow through our entire savings, and I realize deferring non-essential purchases and repairs will not ruin our lives, but I'm really steamed that we will spend so much on something that would get better on its own in a few days. Seems like every time we get ahead and have a nice cushion in savings, something happens to blow it away. I guess the "good" news is that we're not too far from our deductible, and after I take the 2-year-old for his hearing screen and speech evaluation, I'm betting we'll be pretty close to meeting it; after that, everything is covered 100%. __________________ ~kathryn~* quilter, lazy gardener, wife to Joe and SAHM to sweet, sensitive Sam 3/06 and feisty Alex 11/10 still missing my lost babes - 11/07 * 5/08 * 9/08 * 12/08

02-21-2013, 04:30 PM	#2
mbleblanc Registered Users Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Eastern Canada Posts: 1,495 Ratings: 27 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: grrrrr... a DH/money vent holy moly! Yeah I'd be livid too! Heck, our healthcare is free and I still get mad when SO goes up to ER for a stuffy nose, sore back, etc. (he doesn't like our family doctor lol) Maybe tell him to come up with the money outside of the family savings? That might be a bit harsh but there's no way I'd spend $4,000 on a silly medical bill over stuff for the house/kids! __________________ Maria mama to Noah (02/09/09) and fulltime university student.

02-21-2013, 04:39 PM	#3
sisu Registered Users Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Eau Claire, WI Posts: 6,571 Ratings: 44 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: grrrrr... a DH/money vent I would be infuriated, too. __________________ Kylee, married to my inimitable DH. Mama to my seraphic sweetheart (3.2010), my bodacious babe (11.2011), and impatiently awaiting someone new (8.2013).

02-21-2013, 04:41 PM	#4
bdhutier Registered Users Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: bubbaland Posts: 6,791 Ratings: 302 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: grrrrr... a DH/money vent Call the hospital and let them know your deductible is high. In the past I have had them treat it like we were self pay and it knocked the bill down. __________________ CATHOLIC, Open to life,Pro-life from moment of conception to natural death ,mom of many blessings who LOVES to sew when I can find the time Please excuse any typos ,my laptop keyboard has a mind of it's own Last edited by bdhutier; 02-21-2013 at 04:59 PM.

02-21-2013, 04:46 PM	#5
happyhats Registered Users Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,643 Ratings: 19 Feedback: 100%	Re: grrrrr... a DH/money vent Yeah, I would first call the hospital and see if you can get things cheaper. Then maybe pay a chunk upfront that you are comfortable with. Then make the monthly payments something hubby has to be responsible for, as in it comes out of any of his blow money and frivolous things mainly for him.